Home Maintenance Before Vacation: A Pre-Trip Checklist
Leaving town? Protect your home while you're away with this pre-vacation checklist — shut off the water, prevent leaks and pests, and come home to no surprises.
The worst homeowner stories almost always start the same way: "We were away when..." A burst supply line, a failed sump pump, or a frozen pipe can do days of damage before anyone notices. A few minutes before you leave prevents nearly all of it.
The single most important step: water
Most catastrophic while-away damage is water. A supply line that bursts while you're gone can flood a home for days.
- For longer trips, shut off the main water supply. No water flowing means no flood. This one step prevents the worst-case scenario.
- For shorter trips, at least close the valves to the washing machine and dishwasher — common failure points. See plumbing.
Set the climate for "away"
- Set the thermostat to a safe away temperature — not off. In winter, keep it warm enough to prevent frozen pipes (heat the home, not just the air you'd feel). In summer, warm enough to save energy but cool enough to control humidity. See HVAC.
- In freezing climates, if you're shutting off water, consider draining lines on extended trips to eliminate freeze risk entirely.
Test what protects you
- Test the sump pump before you leave, especially in rainy season — a failure while you're away means a flooded basement no one catches.
- Check the water heater for any signs of leaking; some units have a "vacation" mode to save energy.
Prevent the small stuff
- Take out all trash and clear the kitchen — pests find an empty house inviting.
- Unplug what you can to save energy and reduce fire risk.
- Stop the mail or have it collected — a pile signals an empty home.
- Have someone check in, especially on longer trips. A trusted person who knows where the shutoffs are can stop a small problem from becoming a big one.
Longer the trip, more thorough the prep
A weekend away needs little. A two-week trip warrants the full water shutoff, a sump-pump test, and a check-in plan. Match your prep to your time away — and lean toward caution for anything over a few days.
Make it a saved routine
The reason people skip these steps is that they're scrambling to pack. The fix is a saved, reusable checklist you run every time. Owner Tools keeps your home's specific tasks in one place — free, no login or address required — so "leaving town" prep becomes a two-minute habit instead of a worry.